Since their inception computers have been business tools, machines designed to assist their user in efficiently doing work. It’s not a foreign concept to most of us – we all certainly use computers in some form in our day to day lives, some of us more in-depth than others.
While the same was true in 1983 as it is today, the computers of today are of course infinitely more capable than those of 35 years ago. Still, what we actually do with the machines, sometimes, is nothing different, especially in the cases of word processing and spreadsheet work.
For word processing, Bits and Bytes makes a comparison between that software and the use of a typewriter in a typical office setting, contrasting how many different machines you would need in a non-computerized office compared to one with just one computer and the accompanying accessories and software – a more cohesive system.
Of course, as most all of us know, word processors let us edit and format text in many detailed ways – something trivial on computers today, which be it Windows or Macintosh come with some form of relatively useful word processing software, rivaling that of the best software of the 80’s. Still, the principle is the same, just the technology has improved. A fine example is the printer discussion in the middle of this episode.
The episode goes into a cool segment using a Radio Shack “pocket computer” drawing a house (seriously, that’s rather awesome, if simple) before moving on to Visicalc, one of the first popular (really industry standard) spreadsheet programs. If you’ve ever used Microsoft Excel, you know what a spreadsheet is, and the strange but practical logic surrounding them.
Word Processing is pretty useful, but spreadsheet programs like Visicalc really were the system sellers for computers in business back in the day. Computers doing what they do best, mathematical calculations, in an instant naturally would be an invaluable resource to a business owner.
This episode may seem like it would be boring, but not really – it’s enjoyable, but that of course has to do with the presentation provided by Luba Goy and Billy Van.
Enjoy!